S.Africa's Netcare boosts H1 profit thanks to weaker currency

May 19 South Africa's No.3 private hospital
group Netcare Ltd reported a 20 percent rise in
first-half profit on Monday, thanks to a weaker rand currency
and strong local demand.

Netcare, which also runs one of Britain's largest private
hospital networks, said adjusted headline earnings per share
totalled 76 cents in the six months to end-March, compared with
63.5 cents a year earlier.

While demand for private healthcare is increasing in South
Africa thanks to a fast-growing middle class, tentative economic
growth in the United Kingdom has led to a drop in the number of
Britons with private medical insurance.

"The demand for private healthcare within South Africa is
expected to remain strong," Netcare said. "We remain optimistic
about the medium and longer term prospects of the UK business."

Netcare lifted its half-year dividend by 18.5 percent to 32
cents per share.

Shares in the company, which are up about 6 percent so far
this year, gained 1.3 percent to 25.98 rand by 0845 GMT.
($1 = 10.3510 South African Rand)
(Reporting by Tiisetso Motsoeneng; Editing by Stella
Mapenzauswa)

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